Once upon a time, hanging out in Dhaka meant only dining out at the latest restaurants. While that’s still a part of our leisure time, many of us are slowly gravitating towards more experiential outings these days. Fortunately, there is a growing number of establishments that have introduced a variety of options for us to choose from. If you’re looking to venture outside your comfort zone, these activities might be right up your alley.
BD KAYAKING
Operating in Dhaka since 2020, Diabari’s BD Kayaking offers both calmness and adventure in three spots: Purbachal’s Blue Lake, between Uttara Center and South Metro Station near the Metro Rail, as well as Round Bridge. The port near Uttara Center Station was launched in December 2023. This spot serves as a safe haven, far from the chaos of traffic, crowds of people, and our busy schedules of paperwork and household responsibilities.
BD Kayaking offers a serene view of the sunset, the metro rail, and some peace of mind, none of which will burn a hole in your wallet. Rides on two-three seater kayaks are priced at BDT 100 per person for 30 minutes; for an hour, the ride will cost you BDT 150. As part of their safety protocols, BD Kayaking’s staff provides life jackets and instructions on how to maneuver the kayak. In the four years they’ve been operating, there haven’t been any kayaking accidents on their watch. Children must be accompanied by a guardian. Overall, kayaking is a family-friendly activity that can be enjoyed by people of various ages and fitness levels.
OPENING HOURS
SUNDAY- SATURDAY, 10AM-7PM
TOGGI FUNWORLD
Be it arcade, bowling, VR/AR, strategy games, paintball, rides, playgrounds, or even laser tag, Toggi Funworld at Bashundhara City Shopping Mall goes the extra mile to bring something for everyone. Currently, their Kiddo package for kids aged two to twelve years old is priced at BDT 1,100. It covers levels 9, 10, and 11, where kids can play all rides and games based on their height and weight. For teenagers and adults, the Toggi Xtreme package at BDT 3,500 offers all games and rides from level 9 to 18. Kids and adults each receive a complimentary water bottle and a pair of socks. Additionally, there’s a Toggi Concierge package priced at BDT 10,000, which includes entry and access to all rides and games from level 8 to 18. Customers receive complimentary adult socks and water bottles as well as free car parking. There’s also provision for individual purchases which offer tickets priced at BDT 150 per person and BDT 300 to BDT 1,500 for games and rides of their choice. For activities like laser tag and paintball, customers are instructed to wear necessary gear such as vests and outfits. They are also briefed on how to play the games and keep score. In the case of bowling, you can play 20 balls in one session of 10 slots.
OPENING HOURS
3PM-11PM
CAPAWCINO CAT CAFE
Established in Dhaka for nearly five years, Capawcino Cat Cafe at
Dhanmondi is a welcoming space for those who prefer the company of
felines over people. More than just a play area, it serves as a safe haven for
rescue cats in search of forever homes. In addition to facilitating cat
adoptions, the cafe prioritises the adoption of cats. The dining area and
cat zone are kept separate. Cat enthusiasts can also spend BDT 200 for one hour or BDT 300 for two hours in the cat zone. This payment helps cover immediate needs such as vaccinations, sterilization, grooming, and deworming for the cats. However, visiting the cat zone is not mandatory for all cafe patrons. Children aged 0-3 years old can enter the cat zone for free, but they must be accompanied by parents or guardians for safety reasons.
OPENING HOURS
CAFE: 12 NOON-11PM
CAT ZONE: 12 NOON-10PM
ESTABLISHED IN DHAKA FOR NEARLY FIVE YEARS, CAPAWCINO CAT CAFE AT DHANMONDI IS A WELCOMING SPACE FOR THOSE WHO PREFER THE COMPANY OF FELINES OVER PEOPLE. MORE THAN JUST A PLAY AREA, IT SERVES AS A SAFE HAVEN FOR RESCUE CATS IN SEARCH OF FOREVER HOMES.
HAATA DHAKA
Focusing on the heritage sites of Old Dhaka, Haata Dhaka was founded in April 2023 to bring people closer to the colonial history of Bengal. They host a two-hour walk through the Farashganj area, a neighbourhood colonised by the French. Even during those times, this area had a multicultural environment that encouraged the establishment of various churches, mosques, and temples.
The tour begins at Victoria Park, and from there the guide takes the guests through Northbrook Hall Road to Beauty Boarding. Afterward, they visit Lalkuthi and then walk to Sutrapur, Jomidar Bari. The Sutrapur Fire Station used to be the residence of Revati Mohan Das. From there, the group walks to Mongolabash, which currently serves as the dormitory for boys enrolled in Kazi Nazrul Islam University.
The tour then proceeds to Laxmi Villa, a recently renovated private house. The next route takes them through the Shyambazar vegetable market and towards Buriganga river port. Sometimes, tourists are given the option to take a 10 to 20-minute ride along the river, which is a nice way to cool off in the summer. On the way back, the group passes through the spice market in Shyambazar and moves on to Ruplal House, which is the last heritage site on this part of the tour. The last stop is the Armenian Church.
If Haata Dhaka is facilitating a big group, a car is provided. However, if iit’s just one or two people, they can commute via rickshaw. Sometimes, the guide is accompanied by security personnel when touring in large groups for safety and crowd control. The tour offers breakfast at Cafe Corner and lunch at Imran’s Heritage Home. The walk is appropriate for anyone interested in history, such as teenagers and adults. It is also an interesting activity for architecture students and photographers.
Their premium package includes pick-up and drop-off, breakfast, and lunch for BDT 5,500 per person. For a more budget-friendly option, enjoy breakfast and lunch without transportation for BDT 4,500. Or, simply opt for breakfast only without transportation at BDT 4,000 per person.
REPORTING TIME
9AM-1PM
Weekdays and Weekends, Booking-based Service
PEAK TIME: Winter